Craniometric variation and population history of the prehistoric Tewa

Abstract

Although the population history and social organization of the prehistoric Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest have received attention in the archaeological literature, little research on this topic has been conducted by biological anthropologists. Here, we examine postmarital residence at two ancestral Tewa Indian pueblos located in north-central New Mexico using determinant ratio analysis. In addition, we examine genetic relationships among pueblos, as well as levels of within-pueblo heterogeneity due to gene flow from extraregional sources, or regional aggregation. Results from determinant ratio analysis indicate greater within-pueblo male variation, consistent with matrilocal residence for at least one Tewa pueblo. Less than expected heterogeneity at two pueblos suggests that endogamy might have been practiced among some prehistoric Tewa pueblos. Gene flow from extraregional sources is indicated for two different pueblos by greater than expected within-group heterogeneity. Distance matrix correlation analyses indicate little if any relationship between phenotypic and geographic distances, suggesting that geography was not the primary basis of gene flow or mate exchange. The weak relationship between phenotypic and geographic distances may be the combined effects of endogamy at some pueblos, nonrandom extraregional gene flow or migration at other pueblos, and limited nonproximity-dependent regional gene flow or migration among pueblos, possibly structured on ritual exchange networks based on medicine society affiliation.

Dental metric variability associated with human migration from skeletal remains of two Jomon sites (Yoshigo and Inariyama) in the Atsumi Peninsula area

“…The parent populations of most of immigrants analyzed in the present study had not been included in the gene pools of each local population which had until then been constituted by interaction with other populations. Several researchers have suggested the possibilities that extraregional gene flow and migration, and/or population aggregation increased intracemetery heterogeneity (Key and Jantz, 1990;Griffin et al, 2001;Stojanowski, 2003Stojanowski, , 2005bSchillaci and Stojanowski, 2005). The present study could not verify the temporal change of genetic variation, and it may be conceivable that relatively high intrapopulation relatedness and migration among the surrounding and extraregional populations had occurred without environmental change.…”

Nonmetric cranial variation in human skeletal remains associated with Okhotsk culture

“…Because Relethford and Blangero (1990) developed a model for the R-matrix method to analyze quantitative morphological traits, many researchers now use this method to elucidate probable human history and to compare variances within and among geographical groups (Relethford, 1991(Relethford, , 1994Relethford and Harpending, 1994;Powell and Neves, 1999;Steadman, 2001;González-José et al, 2003;Roseman and Weaver, 2004;Stojanowski, 2004Stojanowski, , 2005Hanihara and Ishida, 2005;Schillaci and Stojanowski, 2005). Thus, the effects of differential external gene flow can be assessed by comparing observed and expected variances (Relethford and Balngero, 1990).…”

Craniometric divergence history of the Japanese populations

“…Thus, the R-matrix method may give a more accurate representation of population history than classical methods (Komesu et al, 2008). As a result, many researchers, including us, now use this method to elucidate probable human history and to compare variances within and among geographical groups (Relethford, 1991(Relethford, , 1994Relethford and Harpending, 1994;Powell and Neves, 1999;Steadman, 2001;González-José et al, 2003;Roseman and Weaver, 2004;Stojanowski, 2004Stojanowski, , 2005Hanihara and Ishida, 2005;Schillaci and Stojanowski, 2005;Komesu et al, 2008;Hanihara, 2008;Hanihara et al, 2008).…”